Conlang Relay 13: Feb/Mar 2006

Most languages will follow the standard rules. The Torch contains the following information.

Running Text

The romanised text in your language. Example:

Subito filia serpentem videt.
...

You must not give an English translation!

Lexicon

This must contain all morphemes used in the text, i.e., stems/roots of all words, affixes, and clitics. If necessary for translation, word class, gender/class, declension information, ... must be given. Example for a complex language:

filia, -ae:                -- n. f.sg. -- "daughter"
serpens, serpent-is, -e:s  -- n. f.sg. -- "snake"
subito                     -- adv.     -- "suddenly"
vid-e:re, vid-i, vis-us    -- v.t.     -- "to see"
-a                         -- suffix   -- nom.sg. of -a nouns
-em                        -- suffix   -- acc.sg. of -is nouns f. & m.
-et                        -- suffix   -- 3.sg.pres.ind.act. of -e:- verbs
...

The lexicon may contain references to the grammar section for non-trivial usage e.g. of affixes or particles. You may need to give an explanation of how to interpret the information in the lexicon (e.g., why there are three forms for each verb, etc.).

Interlinears

The translator can decide in advance whether interlinears are wanted. This will be indicated to the sender clearly (on a website and/or by e-mail). If the translator wants interlinears, and if they are needed, then you send interlinears, and the interlinear analysis must show the morphemes as listed in the lexicon. The interlinears must not list any grammatical tag or translation. To find these, the translator has to look up each morpheme in the vocabulary list. Example:

Subito fili-a serpent-em vid-et.
...

Grammar

The grammar description must contain enough information to enable the translator to decipher the text. The grammar description must be self-contained and sufficient to translate the text. Still, the grammar section should be brief. If you give links to complete grammars on the web, do not assume them necessary for working out the relay text. Example:

The language uses accusative-nominative case marking.

Although constituent order in a sentence is often SOV, it is really the
case endings that define which is the subject and which the object.

...

Glossary

The glossary must list abbreviations used in the grammar and the lexicon. Example:

3     -- 3rd person
acc.  -- accusative case
act.  -- active voice
adv.  -- adverb
f.    -- feminine gender
ind.  -- indicative mood
n.    -- noun
num.  -- nominative case
pl.   -- plural
pres. -- present tense
sg.   -- singular
v.t.  -- transitive verb
...

The subclass of romlangs will be scheduled as a continuous requence in the relay. They will use special rules:

Native Text

The romanised text in your language is included in the torch as usual. You must not give an English translation.

Etymologies

In the lexicon, as few translations as possible should be listed. Instead, etymologies from Latin/Romance must be given if the words is originally Romance. In the case of irregular semantical changes and borrowings, you must list an English translation. Example:

a wieczy -- adv.    -- "for the time being, thus far" (Lat. ad + vicem)
wiec     -- adv     -- Lat. autem
wniastra -- n.f.sg. -- Lat. fenestra

Help

If they are is really stuck, translators may ask their predecessor for help with the vocabulary by private e-mail. This should be kept to a minimum.

No Grammar

The grammar section should be as short as possible. You must only describe bits of the grammar that cannot be guessed from good knowledge of Romance languages. The grammar section should be absolutely minimal. If you give links to complete grammars on the web, do not assume them necessary for working out the relay text.

No Interlinears

Interlinears must not be given for romlangs. Anything non-trivial needed to decipher the text and to break down the words must be explained, though.

Glossary

The glossary must list abbreviations used in the grammar and the lexicon. See above.